Mercedes sponsor Petronas has responded to rumours of a possible return of the Malaysian Grand Prix. The Sepang International Circuit is beloved by Formula 1 drivers and fans alike, but a return need not be counted on for now.
Petronas denies rumours of reviving Malaysia GP
After the 2017 F1 season, the Malaysia GP disappeared from the F1 calendar. Verstappen won the last edition, his second win in the premier class of motorsport. There were hopeful sounds when Reuters reported that Mercedes sponsor Petronas, also based in Kuala Lumpur, would work on a return of the beloved race in 2026.
Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz, the CEO of Petronas, reportedly discussed the possible return of Formula 1 at a town hall meeting, which the media were not allowed to attend. Petronas also bought the naming rights for SIC in October last year.
Petronas, however, denied any talk of a return. "We would like to confirm that there have been no discussions on bringing the sport back to the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit," reads the short statement on the company's website. This is more in line with the Malaysian government's stance, which announced only a year ago that Formula 1's return was unrealistic due to financial reasons.